Locomotive driving box lubricator



Oct. 17, 1933. G. H. ZOUCK LOCOMOTIVE DRIVING BOX LUBRICATOR Filed Jan. 18, 1927 Patented Oct. 17, 1933 PATENT Loooiuorlvn DRIVING Box LUBRICATOR George H. Z ouck, Orange, N. J., assignor to Franklin Railway Supply Company, New York,

N."Y.,-a corporation of Delaware -Application January 18,1927. Serial No. 161,738.

I 8' Claims. (01. 308--3) This invention relates "to lubricators, particularly'to lubricators adapted to use a cake of grease .of a width substantially less than the distance between the box legs.

' Such lubricators are more efficient in the use of grease than thetype which accommodates a cake of substantially the same width as the distance between the box legs, as the lubricating qualities of the larger cake with its extended area contacting with the journal detericrate'to an extent which impairs the lubrication of the joura nal considerably'before the cake is entirely used. Hence, in order to maintain proper lubrication of the journal at all times, the larger cakes have to be renewed before they are entirely used up.

The smaller cake, presenting a smallerareato the journal is fed up to the journal more rapidly and is-entirely used up before its lubricating qualities'materiall'y deteriorate and, consequentzo ly, waste is eliminated. Y

The primary object of the present invention is V 3 5; the following description of the preferred 'embodiment of the invention considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1, is a front view, half in elevation and half in section, of a locomotive driving box lubricator embodying my improvements, the section being taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section, the section being taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. 1'

Fig. 3 is a section on an enlarged scale taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, illustrating a detail of my invention. I 1,

Referring now to the drawing; the reference character 3 indicates a locomotive driving axle journal and 4+4 indicate the legs of the driving box. A spreader member, indicated as a whole,

by the reference numeral 5, is positioned between the legs 44 of the box and comprises a rear wall 6, side walls 7, and lugs 8 which extend laterally from each corner of the spreaderand abut against the box legs 4-4. These lugs are 'orig-' inally made long nough to fit any size of box in common use andmay be machined down to fit the'smaller sizes. The side walls 7 arejprovided' with webs 9 for strengthening the rear wall. 50;. Apertured lugs 10 are also provided on the side walls to receive the pin 11 for securing-the cover plate 12 in closed position; I

The walls 7 provide a guiding pocket for the grease cellar 13. The cellar comprisesa'rear 5; wall 14 andsidewalls 15 which carry theprotecting flanges 16. At each end-of each flange I provide'strengthening ribs 16b, theinwardly exei tendingportions 16a, of which, contact with" the journal; thereby protectingthe portions of the 70,, journal bearing surface which lie betweenfi the cellar walls 15 and the box legs 44.

Thegcellar'lS also carries lugs '17 extending outwardly over the side walls of the spreader member. Leaf springs 18 are secured to the lugs 17 and bear against the topedges of the walls '7', thereby keeping the flanges lfi adjacent thejour nal bearing surface at all-times. 1

A grease cake'19 is supported in tliecellar on a follower plate20, which, in turn, is'supported 30 by the springs 21, extending downwardly through openings 22in thebottom ofthecellar and seating on the spreader member 5. A perforated plate 23' is interposed betweenthe upper surface of the grease cake and the journal, v

Links '24 are provided on the follower plate for inspecting thelubricator and alsofor relieving the follower tension when inserting a new cake of grease.

According'to the foregoing I provide a .lubricator which is adapted to use a relatively small cake of grease and which, at the same time, affords effective protection for those portions of the journalbearing surface which lie between the cake and the box legs. Furthermore, the :5; protecting flanges and the grease cake are-provided with independent supporting means,so that the operation of one does not depend on the operation of the other. 1

I claim: j

1. In a driving box lubricator, the combination 3 of a spreader, a cellar, means reacting against 1 the spreader for urging the cellar toward the ,journal, a grease cake in the cellar, an aperture 2. In a driving box lubricator, a spreader, a

cellar of a width substantiallyless than -thedis- 1105 said cellar with its flanges upwardly against the journal independently of said first mentioned means.

4. A journal lubricator comprising in combination with the box legs, a spreader member between said legs having side walls spaced inwardly from its edges, a cellar member, journal protecting flanges carried by said cellar and extending therefrom around the journal toward the box legs, togetherwith means'comprising springs and lugs secured to said cellar, for urging said cellar member upwardly.

1 .5. In combination with a railway vehicle axle box, lubricating equipment for the axle journal including a grease cake ofiwidth substantially less than the distance between the legs of the box, spring means for urging said cake against the journal, a device having plate or flange likeparts adapted to protect portions of the journal bearinggsurface between said cake and the box legs, and. ;additional spring means substantially independent of thespring means first mentioned for urging said device upwardly against the journal, whereby said cake and said device are independently supported and lubrication of the journal bearing surfacewill continue even upon breakage or failure of the spring means for supporting said device.

x ,6. In combination, a railway vehicle axle journal, a box structure surrounding the journal and having legs extended downwardly at opposite sides thereof to define the side walls of a lubricator cavity, a normally ,flxed base between said legs for supporting lubricator elements in said cavity, a grease cake in said cavity of width substantially less thanthe distance between said legs, spring means reacting between said base and said, cake for yieldingly urging the latter upwardly against the journal, a device having plate or flange like parts adapted to protect portions of the journal bearing surfacerbetween said cake and the legs of the box structure, and separate spring means reacting between said base and said device for yieldingly urging the latterupwardly toward the journal,'the two spring means being operatively independent so asto ensure continuance of lubrication even upon breakage or failure of the spring means for supporting the said device. 7

'7. In combination with a railway vehicle axle journal, a box structure surrounding the journal and providing a lubricator cavity therebelow withgenerally upright side walls, said box structure further including a base part defining the bottom wall of a lubricator cavity, a pair of guide flanges projecting upwardly from said base, said flanges being extended axially of the journal and being spaced from the side walls of the cavity, a grease cake between and laterally positioned by said flanges, said grease cake being removable from and replaceable in the box structure endwise between its guide flanges, curved plate-like elements for protecting the journal bearing surface between said cake and the side walls of the lubricator cavity, spring means for urging said plate-like elements upwardly against the journal, and separate spring means for urge ing said cake'upwardly against the journal, the

two spring means being operatively independent so as to provide for continuance of lubrication even upon breakage or failure of the spring means for supporting the journal protecting plates.

8; In a locomotive driving box lubricator, the

ried by said cellar and extended laterally and up-' wardly from its side walls, and means reacting between the spreader memberrand the, cellar for urging the cellar upwardly toward the journal, whereby the flanges serve to protect journal bearing surface areas between the box legs and. th

cellar at'each side of the latter. GEORGE H. ZOUCK. 

